Workshop Timer
Facilitating a workshop means running the exercise and the clock at the same time — and the clock usually loses. A workshop timer takes that second job away: every activity gets a visible countdown, participants can see how much time remains without asking, and the session actually reaches its final discussion.
This free timer for facilitators comes with a 90-minute workshop agenda: introduction, main exercise, a real break, group discussion, and a wrap-up that doesn't get squeezed to thirty seconds.
The 90-minute workshop agenda, timeboxed
| Agenda item | Timebox |
|---|---|
| Intro | 10 min |
| Exercise | 30 min |
| Break | 10 min |
| Discussion | 30 min |
| Wrap | 10 min |
| Total | 90 min |
How to run a timed workshop
Show the timer in fullscreen mode on the room's screen (or share the view-only link in remote workshops). A countdown everyone can see changes group behavior on its own: small groups pace themselves through an exercise instead of being startled by a two-minute warning.
Announce timeboxes at the start of each block, then let the timer enforce them. The break deserves the same discipline as the exercises — a break that starts eight minutes late and gets cut short teaches participants that none of the other timeboxes are real either.
Facilitation tips for timed workshops
- Build slack into the agenda itself rather than stealing it from the last block — the wrap-up is where outcomes get committed.
- For exercises over 20 minutes, give a halfway signal; the visible countdown handles the endgame.
- If a block ends early, bank the time and offer it to the discussion — never stretch an exercise just to fill its box.
- For multi-hour workshops, duplicate the exercise/break/discussion pattern rather than making single blocks longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can participants see the workshop timer on their own devices?▼
Yes. Share the view-only link and every participant sees the live agenda and countdown — no one can edit it, and it works in remote and hybrid workshops.
Can I build a custom agenda for a full-day workshop?▼
Yes. Add as many agenda items as you need with any durations, then save the agenda with a unique ID and reload it for the next run of the same workshop.
Does the timer make a sound when a block ends?▼
Optionally. Sound is off by default; turn it on and the timer plays an alarm when a timebox ends — alongside the visual flash that always happens.
Free, no signup — opens the meeting agenda timer with this template loaded. Edit anything before you start.